Cleaner for rain gutters



Jun 14, 1955 w. o. TYDINGS 2,710,616

CLEANER FOR RAIN GUTTERS Filed June 12, 1953 INVENTOR. WILLIAM oxvomes United States Patent CLEANER FOR RAIN GUTTERS William Otis Tydings, Baltimore, Md. Application June 12, 1953, Serial No. 361,307

4 Claims. (Cl. 134167) This invention relates to rain gutters and more particularly to a device for periodically cleaning them of leaves and sediment.

It has among its objects to provide a new and improved cleaner for a rain gutter that will avoid one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved cleaner for a'rain gutter that will include a mechanical deflector in conjunction with a water hose unit for cleaning out a rain gutter effectively and expeditiously.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved cleaner for rain gutters that will be simple in construction and design, and adapted to scour out the inside surface of the gutter and pass the sediment and material displaced so it will pass harmlessly out from the gutter.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully described.

This invention differs from previous arrangements employed for the purpose of cleaning out leaves from a rain gutter, in that it uses hydraulic means for forcing them from the gutter, instead of relying entirely on a mechanical scraper moved forcibly along the gutter. The latter does not provide an adequate means for removing the leaves and sediment, which result frequently in a residue of suflicient accumulation to flow to the down spout and clog it, especially during a heavy rain storm, when the gutter and rain spout should be fully open and free.

A unique feature of this invention is that it is designed and made to run freely on the edge of the gutter. The latter serving as a rail for rollers engaging thereon and using a carriage for the hose used in delivering water for the cleaning purpose.

For a better understanding of the invention and the objects thereof reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein a form of the invention is indicated by way of example. The following description outlines the details of this form and the principles involved, while the claims emphasize the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cleaner unit embodying this invention and shown applied to the conventional rain gutter;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation showing the deflector component taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view looking in the direction of arrows 33 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detail of the hose holding carriage component used in this embodiment, shown in side elevation; and

Figure 5 is an end elevation in section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Similar reference characters refer to the same parts in all the figures.

In the construction shown, a carriage consists of body 11 of solid form designed to support the axles 12 Patented June 14, 1955 of a pair of grooved wheels 13. The grooves 14 of the wheels rest and encompass the outer edge 15 of a rain gutter 21. This is to facilitate the travel of the carriage longitudinally on the gutter. The carriage has a handle 16 extending downwardly from it for manually propelling it. The carriage carries a nozzle 17 on its body, and the nozzle in turn is connected with fittings 18 to a conventional water hose 19. The hose is normally attached to the water service in the vicinity. The nozzle is preferably diverted angularly down towards the lower interior surface 24 of the gutter, so that the water it delivers under pressure will scour out the gutter in a direction away from the carriage. The body is balanced on the outer edge of the gutter, and transversely supports the nozzle and positions it in the gutter. This is preferably of the form indicated in the drawings and is so placed that it locates the center of gravity over the gutter to prevent the carriage from tipping overthe edge 15 and falling out of the gutter 21. This restricts the tilt and keeps the carriage on the gutter. The carriage is removed by lifting it up off the gutter.

A deflector used with this hose-holding carriage consists of a metal (or plastic) scoop 20 formed to fit in the gutter. The front area portion 27 pointed generally towards the carriage 11 lays on the lower portion 24 of the gutter. It is of thin and flat material, and is contoured backwardly so as to rise gently over the side wall of the gutter, in conjunction with a barrier 23 formed at the upper portion of the deflector.

T he purpose of this contour is to guide the leaves and sediment, propelled by water from the nozzle, over the side of the gutter and allow them to fall on the ground outside. The upper edges 22 of the deflector are bent over to rest on the edges of the gutter and clamp thereon yet permit its movement thereon. A handle 26 is attached to the deflector for moving it. The deflector and hose holding unit are preferably connected together by a chain or cord 24 connecting the handles 16 and 26 and allowing adjustment of the spacing between them, and to prevent the force of the water through the nozzle 17, from pushing the scoop out of the gutter.

In the operation of the device, the deflector and hose holding carriage are located on the gutter. Then the water under pressure is allowed to flow through the nozzle. The force of the water releases the sediment and pushes it with the leaves along the gutter. These are carried up against the deflector, which diverts the water, leaves and sediment up and over the side of the gutter, leaving the latter clean. After the work is accomplished the water is turned off and the hose holder and deflector lifted up off the gutter and removed.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this particular form as it is appreciated that other forms or construction could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. A rain gutter cleaner comprising in combination, a deflector component attachable to said gutter and placeable therein to block off the interior thereof and provide a guide from the bottom of the gutter to and over the side wall thereof; a hose carrying means including means for carrying it on the gutter and directing a nozzle connected with said hose for delivering water under pressure along the gutter towards said deflector to carry debris thereto and over the guide, means for manually moving said components along said gutter, and means for tieing in said components and effecting their operation through said manually moving means cooperatively together.

2. A rain gutter cleaner comprising in combination, a deflector component attachable to said gutter and placeable therein to block off the interior thereof and provide a guide from the bottom of the gutter to :and over the side wall thereof, a hose carrying rneans including means for carrying it on the gutterand directing a nozzle connected with said hose tor delivering water under pressure along the gutter towards said deflector to carry debris thereto and over the guide, means ,for manually moving said components along said gutter, means for tieing in said components and'efiectirig their operation through said manually moving means cooperatively together, said hose carryingmeans including a carriage with wheels for engaging and travelling on said gutter.

3. A rain gutter cleaner comprising in combination, a deflector component attachable to said gutter and placeable therein to block off the interior thereof and provide a guide from the bottom of the gutter to and over the side wall thereof ahose carrying means including means for carrying it on the gutter and directing a nozzle connected with said hose for delivering water under pressure along the gutter towards said deflector to carry debris thereto and over the :guide, means for manually moving said components along said gutter, means for tieing in said components and etfecting their operation through said manually moving means cooperatively together, said hose carrying means including a carriage with wheels for engaging and travelling on said gutter, and means on the carriage for maintaining the balance of said carriage on the gutter.

4. A rain gutter cleaner comprising in combination, a deflector component attachable to said gutter and placeable therein to block off the interior thereof and provide a guide from the bottom of the gutter to and over the side wall thereof a hose carrying means including means for carrying it on the gutter and directing a nozzle connected with said hose for delivering water under pressure along the gutter towards said deflector to carry debris thereto and over the guide, means for manually moving said components along said gutter, means for tieing in said components and etfecting their operation through said manually moving means cooperatively together, said hose carrying means including a carriage with wheels for engaging and travelling on said gutter, means on the carriage for maintaining the balance of said carriage on the gutter, said deflector including bent edge portions for facilitating the movement thereof on the edges of said gutter and holding it in place thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,274,931 Otterson Aug. 6, 1918 2,236,791 Forsberg Apr. 1,1941 2,461,517 Carnevale Feb. 15, 1949 

